Those who believe Oklahoma State’s 41-29 win over Nebraska was an upset are simply deceiving themselves.
When Oregon State defeated USC that was an upset.
When Oklahoma State beat Nebraska, it was not an upset. It was just an ordinary ass kickin' - and that's all.
That Nebraska was ranked No. 20 going into Saturday’s game means nothing.
A real upset occurs when a team – deservedly regarded as superior to its opponent – loses to that opponent for whatever reasons. Luck. Bad officiating. Turnovers. Just playing a better game that day.
There was no reason for anyone to believe Nebraska was superior to Oklahoma State. Any such belief originated in the hope which springs eternal; it wasn’t based on what Nebraska or Oklahoma State had previously accomplished or failed to accomplish.
Neither Coach Bill Callahan nor the Huskers reverted Saturday to those lamented days when the offense and the defense seemed to think block n’ tackle had something to do with boats.
The Huskers knew what they were doing out there with the Cowboys. Or, they knew what they were supposed to do. They weren’t lost. They were just whupped.
What about the first half, when NU grabbed that 16-0 lead? And Brandon Jackson looked to be en route to, maybe, a classic performance?
Well, what about it?
This was a fight. Nebraska won the early rounds. Oklahoma State obviously got good advice from its corner (at halftime), came back in the later rounds and hit the Huskers everywhere but the soles of their shoes.
Nebraska didn’t fall apart in the second half. Nebraska was taken apart in the second half. Three fourth-quarter touchdowns cannot be equated with a few lucky punches – even if you believe in lucky punches.
Husker fans should remember that, only a few years ago, Athletic Director Steve Pederson said he didn’t want NU football to slide into mediocrity.
It can be said Nebraska has stopped sliding toward mediocrity, depending on your definition of that status.
However, the Huskers are still wandering in the gridiron desert, but with a reasonable expectation that Moses Callahan can lead them to a better place. The question is whether the promised land of national championship contention is something less than 40 years away.
The loss to OSU left Nebraska 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12. The Cowboys are now 5-3 and 2-2.
Now what? Missouri. The team billed all season as Nebraska’s rival for boss dog of the Big 12 North. The No. 23 Tigers fared miserably at home Saturday against No. 19 Oklahoma, losing 26-10. Every one of Oklahoma’s points came as the result of Missouri mistakes.
The Huskers knew the outcome of the OU-Mizzou game before taking the field against Oklahoma State. Callahan said the Huskers were pumped up, given what a win would mean for them.
“This is huge!” Callahan said a few minutes before kickoff.
Now, the Husker Nation has to hope that it wasn’t all that huge.
On Brandon Jackson: He picked up a career-high 182 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries. Jackson earned 124 of those yards in the first half, and 99 of those in the first quarter. The Huskers total rushing output: 211 yards.
Interesting bit from the Tulsa World: It was the Cowboys first-ever win over a nationally ranked Nebraska team. OSU earned 496 total yards, their most ever against the Huskers.
